Keeping rodents out of the garden

Gardeners struggle with a lot of problems, from uncooperative weather to faulty irrigation, but perhaps the biggest trouble is keeping rodents out of the garden and away from the harvest.

Contra Costa Master Gardener Steven Griffin says there are ways to minimize the damage and the frustration. Here are some of his tips:

• First, identify what the pest is. Looks for signs, such as feces, mounds of soil, tunnels and indications something has gnawed an opening into your home or garden shed.

• Next, look at your yard and garden with a critical eye. Identify what about the space rodents find so attractive. Do you have a water source for them, or have pet food sitting out? Do you have a wood pile or ground cover where rodents might take up residency? Sometimes just having a garden is plenty to attract rodents.

• After you’ve figured out what rodent is causing you problems and why it’s coming into your house and home, you need to come up with a plan for controlling the creatures that is based on the rodent’s natural biology and habits, and that will ensure you don’t damage the environment or unintentionally kill other animals.

• Exclusion is usually a key in controlling rodents. Patch holes where they are getting in, install fences, consider an electric fence, install hardware cloth to stop animals from burrowing under fences and getting into your garden beds.

• Take steps to make your yard less attractive to them.

• Use deadly tactics as a last resort. Set traps for rats, mice, gophers and ground squirrels, but do not use poisons that too often kill other animals.

• Choose the right trap for the animal and follow directions on how to use it. Contact Joan Morris at jmorris@ bayareanewsgroup.com or 925-977-8479.

JOAN MORRIS — STAFF Exclusion, such as installing an electrified fence, is a good way to keep unwanted critters out of your garden and away from your harvest. Use deadly tactics only as a last resort.